The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-29
RIDING A PICK-A-PACK.

How the Little Ones of Many Animals
Are Carried by Their Parents
Among our Indian tribes we invari-
ably see the pappoose swung TO the
mothers back or carried in the way
called pick-a-pack, ard it is curious to
note how many of the lower animals
transport their little ones in the same
way, oftentimes when it requires no
little effort on the part of the parent.
One OF the most interesting animals
have ever seen was a large South
American ant-eater; the long-nosed,
bushy-tailed fellow which walks upon
the side of its feet so long are its
claws, whose scientific name is myrme-
Sophaga iubata. 1t stood upright,
peering at me with its small bead like
eyes. its great tail completely cover
ing its back like an umbrella, and as |
watched the curious creature | became
aware of another pair Of eyes and an
other long nose Just above the head
of the large one, and it soon
dawned upon me that the ant
eater had little one, and that it was
perched upon the mothers back,
completely concealed by the long
bushy tail that was spread over it like
a canopy. And this was the way the
baby. and sometimes two. was carried
about. The great tail serves double
purpose: it not only covers and hides
the young when upon the mother S
back, but it protects the ant-eatcr her.
self, giving her the appearance of n
great bush.
While the ant-eater is q slow-going,
clumsy beast, it is an enemy TO be
dreaded at close quarters, the long
sharp claws being terrible weapons. |
have been Informed that on one occa-
sion u native saw an ant-eater carry
ing its young pick-a-pack, as l have
described and thinking to secure it
for dinner, as the little fellows are
considered great delicacies, he APP
preached and attacked it with his
spear. when without warning the ami
nal srrang at him, the babies rolling
off as she struck the unfortunate
man so powerful a blow
with her claws that he was instantly
killed. The claws of the ant-eatcr
are lis only weapon, being long. sharp
and powerful, to enable it to tear open
tho great ant-hills. It's mouth is ex-
tremelY small, and at the end Of long
pointed snout. while the tongue is of
remarkable length and perfectly adapt
ed for the work it has to perform.
In South America another animal,
the sloth. carries its young in the same
manner. The brown bear of Asia
carries its young pick-a-pack. and
when walking along sedately bearing
Che cubs. ono or two, upon its back, il
presents a very curious appearance.
In equatorial Africa hunters often sec
young animals in curious positions.
Once whom a party had crept up to
a lake in the hope of finding a herd of
elephants. they saw instead. some
twenty or thirty feet from the shore, a
large baby hippopotamus that seemed
to be actually standing on the water
its huge clumsy feet resting upon
it. The hunters supposed
that it was on n sand
bar, but as it soon began to move away
without any motion of the feet it be-
came evident that the thousand pound
baby was upon its mothers back 1t
rose gradually higher and higher, and
as the old one moved up the bank it
was seen to be standing on her broad
back, being carried up and down
stream in this way.
Among our own comparatively IA
niliar animals we find most inter-
esting example of pick-a-paclS riding.
Tho common Opossum Of the South,
the only pouched animal of this coun-
try, first carries its young in n pouch;
5ut when they are well grown and
capable of running about they take
their places upon her back and cling
there. sometimes six or seven, present
ing a very animated appearance, their
little black eyes glistening and tho lit
tie ears erect. The little opossums
havo peculiar way of holding on, in
this having an advantage over al
most all other animals. Their tails
are what is called prehcnsile. or have
tic faculty of clinging to any object
like Che tail of the so-calied ring tailed